TRAVEL - SPAIN (Part 1)
Sara Shantelle Lim goes to Spain on Singapore Airlines Business Class
1 Month Trip
Places of attraction - Madrid, Aqueduct of Segovia, Catherdral de Segovia,
The Royal Palace of Madrid, The Catholic Cathedral, The Walls of Avila, Aldea El Rocio Huelva.
Singapore Airlines Business Class Travel - I always enjoy flying with Singapore Airlines on Business Class as they always provide excellent customer service and comfort is very important especially on quite a long flight. I like to arrive fresh at my destination so I have the energy to complete all my travel plans and tasks enthusiastically.
Beautiful Aqueduct of Segovia in Spain
A massive structure which is over 2000 years old and an iconic view for the town that has 3 UNESCO world heritage sites. It has a total length of 15 km from its source in the mountains to the Alcazar on the NW tip of the city. Simply incredible and stunning! I enjoyed a magnificent walk around the town and lovely scenery surrounding this area.
Roman Aqueduct in Spain
With the Pont du Gard in France, it is one of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts. It is the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms.
The History of The Aqueduct of Segovia Spain
As the aqueduct lacks a legible inscription (one was apparently located in the structure's attic, or top portion), the date of construction cannot be definitively determined. The general date of the Aqueduct's construction was long a mystery although it was thought to have been during the 1st century AD, during the reigns of the Emperors Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan. At the end of the 20th century, Géza Alföldy deciphered the text on the dedication plaque by studying the anchors that held the now missing bronze letters in place. He determined that Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) ordered its construction and the year 98 A.D. was proposed as the most likely date of completion.However, in 2016 evidence was published which points out to a slightly later date, by 112 AD.
Segovia Aqueduct in 1824 by Edward Hawke Locker
The beginnings of Segovia are also not definitively known. The Vaccaei people are known to have populated the area before it was conquered by the Romans. Roman troops sent to control the area stayed behind to settle there. The area fell within the jurisdiction of the Roman provincial court (Latin conventus iuridici, Spanish convento jurídico) located in Clunia.
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Museum of Santa Teresa
Basilica of San Vicente, Covent of San Jose.
This place is 1.5h away from Madrid City.
Cathedral de Segovia
Also known as the Lady of Cathedrals, this Gothic cathedral is lined with 1300 stained glass, has one of the highest tower in Spain and has wonderful altarpieces and a museum. Visitors are encouraged to visit the bell tower as the view from the top is simply spectacular!
The massive cathedral was built between 1525-1577 in a late Gothic style, outdated elsewhere in Europe. The previous cathedral of Segovia had stood adjacent to the Alcazar, and had been used by the royal armies in defending the latter against siege. The rebellious Comuneros were intent on taking the Cathedral to protect its holy relics, and to use its position against the walls of the Alcazar in order to defeat its defenders. In a famous exchange, prominent city officials urged the comuneros to halt their attacks on the church, saying they should consider the injustice of razing so sumptuous a temple while making war against those who, serving their king, defended his Alcazar. But their plea fell on deaf ears, and the comuneros replied: la Iglesia era de la Ciudad (the Church belonged to the City). After a bitter siege lasting months, the cathedral lay in ruins.
Overall view of the Cathedral of Segovia, Castilla y Léon, Spain and the surrounding Jewish Quarter of the city (la Judería).
Due to fears of a repeat assault, the cathedral was relocated to the present site and built using a design by the Trasmeran mason named Juan Gil de Hontañón, and the work was continued by his son Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón.
The building's structure features three tall vaults and an ambulatory, with fine tracery windows and numerous stained glass windows. The interior is characterized by unity of style (late Gothic), except for the dome, built around 1630 by Pedro de Brizuela. The Gothic vaults are 33 meters high by 50 meters wide and 105 long. The bell tower reaches almost 90 meters. The current stone spire crowning the tower, dating from 1614, was erected after a major fire caused by a thunderstorm. The original spire, entirely Gothic, was built of American mahogany, had a pyramidal structure, and was the tallest tower in Spain.
Among the most prominent chapels are that of the Santísimo Sacramento, with a Reredo by José de Churriguera, the Chapel of San Andrés, with a Tryptich of the Deposition by Ambrosius Benson, the Chapel of Piety with the Entombment by Juan de Juni, ; and the chapel of the Deposition with the recumbent Christ by Gregorio Fernández.
Vitreaux of Virgin Mary
The retablo mayor, or main reredos, of the cathedral was carved by Francisco Sabatini, and is dedicated to the Virgin of the Peace. It is adorned with the Segovian Saints Frutos, Geroteo, Valentín and Engracia. The choir has gothic seating.
The cathedral museum has works by Pedro Berruguete, Sánchez Coello and Van Orley, and the cathedral archives have one of the first printed books published in Spain: the Sinodal de Aguilafuente.
Typical Spanish Meal at Taberna Real (Madrid)
Plaza de Isabel II, 8, 28013 Madrid, Spain
www.tabernareal.com
I had a typical Spanish meal at this really quint restaurant.
The decor inside is quite like as if I've entered another world.
I see dried meat hanging on the walls. The music played is really old school Spanish.
But it was entirely delightful and surreal.
Their dishes were really delicious and impressive. Service was awesome too!
History
Pardellas-Rivera Brothers, Manuel, Cesareo, José and Abelardo, put al their enthusiasm in order to give birth The Taberna Real. Continuing a family tradition of cooking, from the hand of Manuel, the older brother, they moved from Pontevedra, where they were born, to Madrid, where they found several restaurants in the most emblematic areas of the town.
Taberna Real was opened to the public in 1997 at the same time as the Teatro Real is reopened, after a hard work of the brothers, who had given their whole life, and with the whole heart of support of their parents. The place can't be better: in the middle of the Madrid from the Austrias.
In the 16th century, the Taberna Real was one of the out buildings used by the service of The Royal Palace, where the service ought to do all kind of gastronomic tasks which couldn't be done in the Palace.
Our Restaurant was born in 1997 in order to offer you the best gastronomy elaborated with fresh market products in an environment which remember you the 16th century by achieving you complete satisfaction.
The Royal Palace of Madrid & The Catholic Cathedral
in Panorama View
The Royal Palace of Madrid - One of Europe's largest and most beautifully decorated palaces spanning across an area of more than 1 million square feet. It is the official residence of the Spanish Royal family but is only used for state ceremonies. Basic entry costs only EUR10. Inside the palace houses opulent gilded rooms and lavish interiors. Unfortunately photography is generally not allowed inside except at the grand staircase area.
The Catholic Cathedral - One of the most beautiful churches in the city and the only Spanish cathedral that has been consecrated by a Pope. The church was blessed by John Paul II during his visit to Madrid in 1993. Located just beside the The Royal Palace, you can combine your visit of these 2 places together.
The Walls of Avilla in Spain
This is the place where St. Therese lived and it offers a glimpse of the rustic, serene and beautiful city of Avila. The walls are incredibly preserved over the years and is a beautiful fortress of the city. A truely impressive architecture that is worth the lovely stroll and a sight to behold!
The work was started in 1090 but most of the defensive wall appears to have been rebuilt in the 12th century. The enclosed area is an irregular rectangle of 31 hectares with a perimeter of some 2,516 meters, including 88 semicircular towers. The walls have an average width of 3 metres and an average height of 12 metres. The nine gates were completed over several different periods. The Puerta de San Vicente (Gate of St Vincent) and the Puerta del Alcazar (Gate of the Fortress) are flanked by twin towers, 20 metres high, linked by a semicircular arch. The apse of the cathedral also forms one of the towers.
It is possible to walk upon the walls for roughly half the circumference. Whilst some of the walls will never be navigable in this way because of their integration into other structures, there is a large stretch of the walls that has yet to be made safe for pedestrians.
Aldea El Rocio Huelva
This church once had over 1 Million visitors over 40 days. It is situated in a small town that still uses horses to get around. Its very old school. But its very beautiful. This town has lots of Flamingos by the lake.
It was a really wonderful trip to Spain and I really enjoyed myself tremendously.
Some photos and information is extracted from Wikipedia & Tripadvisor.
Stay Tune for more Blog Posts on my 1 Month Trip in Spain!
READ MORE ABOUT SPAIN (Part 1 to Part 4) - CLICK HERE
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